Crowns and Bridges in Townsville
Are any of your teeth damaged or missing? Crowns and bridges are some of the most popular options for repairing and replacing teeth.
Talk to our team at North Queensland Family Dental to arrange a consultation today. Call us on 07 4755 2055 or get in touch online.
Dental Crowns
A crown (also called a cap) is a custom-made dental fixture that can be used to restore the look and function of a tooth that’s been weakened by decay, old dental restorations or cracks.
At North Queensland Family Dental, we can fit crowns made from porcelain, a gold alloy or a combination of the two. We’ll design your custom crown to closely match the shape, size and colour of your natural teeth.
When is a crown needed?
We’ll explain what’s involved in fitting a crown during your consultation, so you’ll know what to expect and can choose the treatment you’re happy with.
We may recommend a crown:
- to repair a chipped, cracked or broken tooth
- to cover up a discoloured or irregular tooth
- to cover a dental implant
- to protect a large filling
- to strengthen a tooth weakened by decay or root canal treatment.
How are crowns fitted?
If you decide to have a crown fitted, we’ll first carry out an oral health assessment to check that your mouth is healthy. We’ll then prepare your tooth for the crown by removing some enamel and reducing it in size, then take an impression of your tooth which will be used to create your crown.
If you choose a CEREC same-day crown, we may be able to fit your crown in the same appointment. If you choose a different type of crown, this will need to be made in a dental laboratory and fitted during your next appointment. We’ll provide a temporary crown to protect your tooth in the meantime. When your crown is ready, we’ll cement it into place.
We recommend that you avoid hard foods for a few days to give your mouth a chance to heal, but you should continue to brush and floss as normal. When you take good care of your crown, it can last between 5 and 15 years.
Dental bridges
A dental bridge is used to replace a missing tooth. A pontic (false tooth) is placed in the gap, which may be supported on both sides by crowns placed over the teeth or by other means.
A bridge may be used to replace a single tooth or several teeth in a row. Our dentists will design custom crowns and bridges that fit in with the rest of your teeth as closely as possible, to help you maintain a natural-looking smile.
When is a bridge needed?
If you’ve lost a tooth to decay, gum disease or in an accident, we recommend that you replace it as soon as possible. Gaps in your mouth can increase your risk factor for oral health problems, and the teeth on either side of the gap may start to shift position and become crooked without its support.
A bridge is intended to be a permanent solution to replace missing teeth. We’ll also discuss the other restoration options we offer, such as dentures and implants, so you can choose the treatment that’s best suited to you.
How is a bridge fitted?
We offer three types of bridges at our Townsville clinic, depending on your dental issue:
- Fixed bridge: The most common type of dental bridge. This involves a single false tooth supported by a crown on either side.
- Bonded bridge: These bridges don’t use crowns for support. Instead, they use ‘wings’ bonded to the supporting teeth on either side.
- Cantilever bridge: These bridges are supported by a crown on one side only. They’re only used for teeth that are placed under less stress.
When your bridge has been fitted, you should take it easy and avoid food or activities that could cause it to come loose. You should continue to follow your normal oral hygiene routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
CEREC crowns and bridges
We can offer same-day crowns and bridges at our Townsville clinic using CEREC. This computer-aided design and manufacture technology (CAD/CAM) allows our dentists to design and produce porcelain crowns and bridges on-site. These can sometimes be fitted during the same visit.
Advanced computer-aided design means that less of your tooth enamel needs to be removed to support the restoration. When we’ve finalised the design of your crown or bridge, we’ll send the information to a milling unit that cuts the restoration out of a block of ceramic that we’ve selected to match the natural colour of your teeth. We can then bond the restoration into place.
Make an appointment with our friendly team at North Queensland Family Dental to discuss your suitability for CEREC crowns and bridges today.